Detection of a physical move of a remote unit of a centralized radio access network (c-ran)

ABSTRACT

Techniques for determining if a given remote unit of a centralized radio access network (C-RAN) has physically moved are disclosed. This can be done, for example, by determining signal reception metrics for other remote units in the C-RAN based on at least one transmission associated with the given remote unit and determining if the given remote unit has physically moved as a function of the signal reception metrics for the other remote units.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/907,403, filed on Sep. 27, 2019, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A centralized radio access network (C-RAN) can be used to implement basestation functionality for providing wireless service to various items ofuser equipment (UE). Typically, for each cell implemented by the C-RAN,one or more baseband units (BBUs) (also referred to here as “basebandcontrollers” or simply “controllers”) interact with multiple remoteunits (also referred to here as “radio points” or “RPs”). Each basebandcontroller is coupled to the radio points over front-haul communicationlinks or a front-haul network.

A radio point used in a C-RAN may be “moved” after initial installation.In general, there are two types of moves. One type of move (referred tohere as a “network” move) is where the placement of the radio point withrespect to the existing network topology changes (for example, where theradio point is connected to a different port of an Ethernet switch thatis used to implement the fronthaul network). Another type of move (alsoreferred to here as a “physical” move) is where the physical location ofthe radio point changes. The distance that a radio point is moved in aphysical move can be large or small. A very large change in the locationof a radio point (for example, a significant change in the GlobalPositioning Server (GPS) coordinates) may create issues if theassociated wireless service provider is not licensed to operate in thenew location. Other smaller changes in the location of a radio point maybe large enough to create significant change in the radio frequency (RF)environment around the radio point, necessitating a change in the RFplanning for the associated C-RAN. The wireless service providertypically carefully develops the RF plan for the site at which a C-RANis deployed and typically is very interested in any events (such as aphysical move of a radio point) that may impact that RF plan and theresulting RF environment.

SUMMARY

One embodiment is directed to a system comprising a baseband controllerto communicatively couple the system to a core network and a pluralityof radio points to wirelessly transmit and receive radio frequencysignals to and from user equipment using a wireless interface. Each ofthe radio points is associated with at least one antenna and locatedremotely from the controller. The system is configured to determine if agiven radio point has physically moved by: determining signal receptionmetrics for the other radio points based on at least one transmissionassociated with the given radio point and determining if the given radiopoint has physically moved as a function of the signal reception metricsfor the other radio points.

Another embodiment is directed to a system comprising a basebandcontroller to communicatively couple the system to a core network and aplurality of radio points to wirelessly transmit and receive radiofrequency signals to and from user equipment using a wireless interface.Each of the radio points is associated with at least one antenna andlocated remotely from the controller. The system is configured tosuccessively performing the following process for each given radiopoint: determine a respective neighborhood vector for the given radiopoint, each respective neighborhood vector including, for each of theother radio points, a respective signal reception metric determined forthat other radio point based on the reception of the at least onetransmission associated with the given radio point at that other radiopoint; determine a respective change vector for the given radio point,each respective change vector including, for each of the other radiopoints, a respective change value indicative of a change between therespective signal reception metric value in the most-recent neighborhoodvector and the respective signal reception metric value in thesecond-most-recent neighborhood vector; determine a respective movequotient for the given radio point; and determine if the given radiopoint has physically moved as a function of the respective move quotientfor the given radio point. Each respective move quotient for a givenradio point is determined by: determining a subset of the other radiopoints that the second-most-recent neighborhood vector indicates arenearby the given radio point; determining, for each of the other radiopoints in said subset, if the respective change value in the changevector exceeds a move threshold; and determining the respective movequotient for the given radio point as a function of how many of theother radio points included in said subset have a respective changevalue in the change vector that exceeds the move threshold.

Another embodiment is directed to a method of determining if a givenradio point has physically moved in a system comprising a basebandcontroller to communicatively couple the system to a core network and aplurality of radio points to wirelessly transmit and receive radiofrequency signals to and from user equipment using a wireless interface.Each of the radio points is associated with at least one antenna andlocated remotely from the controller. The method comprises determiningsignal reception metrics for the other radio points based on at leastone transmission associated with the given radio point and determiningif the given radio point has physically moved as a function of thesignal reception metrics for the other radio points.

Another embodiment is directed to a method of determining a physicalmove of a radio point in a system comprising a baseband controller tocommunicatively couple the system to a core network and a plurality ofradio points to wirelessly transmit and receive radio frequency signalsto and from user equipment using a wireless interface. Each of the radiopoints is associated with at least one antenna and located remotely fromthe controller. The method comprises successively performing thefollowing for each given radio point: determining a respectiveneighborhood vector for the given radio point, each respectiveneighborhood vector including, for each of the other radio points, arespective signal reception metric determined for that other radio pointbased on the reception of the at least one transmission associated withthe given radio point at that other radio point; determining arespective change vector for the given radio point, each respectivechange vector including, for each of the other radio points, arespective change value indicative of a change between the respectivesignal reception metric value in the most-recent neighborhood vector andthe respective signal reception metric value in the second-most-recentneighborhood vector; determining a respective move quotient for thegiven radio point; and determining if the given radio point hasphysically moved as a function of the respective move quotient for thegiven radio point. Each respective move quotient for a given radio pointis determined by: determining a subset of the other radio points thatthe second-most-recent neighborhood vector indicates are nearby thegiven radio point; determining, for each of the other radio points insaid subset, if the respective change value in the change vector exceedsa move threshold; and determining the respective move quotient for thegiven radio point as a function of how many of the other radio pointsincluded in said subset have a respective change value in the changevector that exceeds the move threshold.

Other embodiments are disclosed.

The details of various embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features and advantages willbecome apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram one embodiment of a C-RAN in which theremote-unit move-detection techniques described below can beimplemented.

FIG. 2 comprises a high-level flowchart illustrating one exemplaryembodiment of a high-level method of detecting a physical move of aradio point used in a C-RAN.

FIG. 3 comprises a high-level flowchart illustrating one exemplaryembodiment of a method of detecting a physical move of a radio pointused in a C-RAN.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicatelike elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram one embodiment of a C-RAN 100 in which theremote-unit move-detection techniques described below can beimplemented.

The C-RAN 100 (also referred to here as a “C-RAN system” 100 or just“system” 100) comprises, for each cell 102 served by the C-RAN 100, abaseband controller 104 and multiple radio points (RPs) 106.

Each RP 106 is remotely located from the baseband unit 104. Also, inthis exemplary embodiment, at least one of the RPs 106 is remotelylocated from at least one other RP 106. Each RP 106 includes or iscoupled to one or more antennas 108 via which downlink RF signals areradiated to various items of user equipment (UE) 110 and via whichuplink RF signals transmitted by UEs 110 are received.

The system 100 is coupled to a core network 112 of the associatedwireless network operator over an appropriate back-haul. In theexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the Internet 114 is used for theback-haul between the system 100 and the core network 112. However, itis to be understood that the back-haul can be implemented in other ways.

Also, each baseband controller 104 is communicatively coupled to theradio points 106 served by it using a front-haul network 116. Thebaseband controllers 104 and the radio points 106 include one or morenetwork interfaces (not shown) in order to enable the basebandcontrollers 104 and radio points 106 to communicate over the front-haulnetwork 116.

In one implementation, the front-haul 116 that communicatively coupleseach baseband controller 104 to the RPs 106 is implemented using aswitched ETHERNET network. In such an implementation, each basebandcontroller 104 and radio point 106 includes one or more ETHERNETinterfaces for communicating over the switched ETHERNET network used forthe front-haul 116. However, it is to be understood that the front-haulbetween each baseband controller 104 and the RPs 106 served by it can beimplemented in other ways.

Generally, for each cell 102 implemented by the C-RAN 100, thecorresponding based controller 104 serving the cell 102 performs theLAYER-3 and LAYER-2 functions for the particular wireless interface usedfor that cell 102. Also, for each cell 102 implemented by the C-RAN 100,the corresponding based controller 104 serving the cell 102 can performsome of the LAYER-1 functions for the particular wireless interface usedfor that cell 102. Each of the radio points 106 serving that cell 102perform any LAYER-1 functions not performed by the baseband controller104 as well as implementing the analog RF transceiver functions.

Different splits in the wireless-interface functions between eachbaseband controller 104 and the radio points 106 can be used. Also, thefunctional split used for downlink communications (that is,communications transmitted to the UEs 110) can differ from thefunctional split used for uplink communications (that is, communicationsreceived from the UEs 110). Also, for a given direction (downlink oruplink), the same functional split does not need to be used for allfront-haul data communicated in that direction. For example, differentfunctional splits can be used for different channels or differentresource blocks.

The description of the C-RAN 100 set forth above is consistent with animplementation used to support the Fourth Generation (4G) Long-TermEvolution (LTE) family of standards. The C-RAN 100 can also be used inimplementations that also support the Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio(NR) family of standards (including both standalone and non-standaloneconfigurations). In 5G NR implementations, the functions of eachbaseband controller 104 can be partitioned into at least one CentralUnit (CU) and at least one Distributed Unit (DU) in order to implementthe CU and DU functions described in the 5G NR family of standards.Also, in 5G NR implementations, the radio points 106 can implement theremote unit (RU) functions described in the 5G NR family of standards.In such 5G NR implementations, the baseband controller 104 can also bereferred to as a CU or DU, and the radio points 106 can also be referredto as remote units 106 or RUs 106.

Each controller 104 and RP 106 (and the functionality described as beingincluded therein) can be implemented in hardware, software, orcombinations of hardware and software, and the various implementations(whether hardware, software, or combinations of hardware and software)can also be referred to generally as “circuitry” or a “circuit”configured to implement at least some of the associated functionality.When implemented in software, such software can be implemented insoftware or firmware executing on one or more suitable programmableprocessors. Such hardware or software (or portions thereof) can beimplemented in other ways (for example, in a field programmable gatearray (FPGA), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.).Also, the RF functionality can be implemented using one or more RFintegrated circuits (RFICs) and/or discrete components. Each controller104 and RP 106 can be implemented in other ways.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a management system 118 iscommunicatively coupled to the controllers 104 and RPs 106, for example,via the Internet 114 and front-haul switched ETHERNET network 116 (inthe case of the RPs 106).

In the exemplary embodiment described here in connection with FIG. 1, a“signature vector” (SV) is determined for each UE 110. The signaturevector is determined based on received power measurements made at eachof the RPs 106. When a UE 110 makes initial LTE or 5G NR Physical RandomAccess Channel (PRACH) transmissions to access a cell 102 served by theC-RAN 100, one or more RPs 106 will receive those initial PRACHtransmissions. Each RP 106 is configured to detect uplink PRACHtransmissions that it has received (that is, each RP 106 is configuredto detect when UEs 110 are attempting to access the associated cell 102)and make received power measurements for those PRACH transmissions. Asignal reception metric indicative of the received power level of thereceived PRACH transmission as received by that RP 106 from that UE 110is determined based on the received power measurements. The signalreception metrics that are determined based on the PRACH transmissionsare also referred to here as “PRACH metrics.” The initial version of thesignature vector for each UE 110 is created based on the PRACH metricsfor that UE 110. This initial version of the signature vector fora UE110 is also referred to here as the “PRACH signature vector” for that UE110.

The signature vector for each UE 110 is updated over the course of thatUE's connection to the cell 102 based on Sounding Reference Signals(SRS) transmitted by each UE 110. Each RP 106 is configured to makereceived power measurements for the SRS transmissions from each UE 110.A signal reception metric indicative of the power level of the SRStransmissions received by the RPs 106 from each UE 110 based on thereceived power measurements is determined. The signal reception metricsthat are determined based on the SRS transmissions are also referred tohere as “SRS metrics.” The updated versions of the signature vector foreach UE 110 are created based on the SRS metrics for that UE 110. Eachof these updated versions of the signature vector for a UE 110 is alsoreferred to here as the “functional signature vector” for that UE 110.

The signature vector can be used to determine the RP 106 having the bestsignal reception metric by scanning or sorting the elements of thesignature vector to find the element having the best signal receptionmetric. The RP 106 that corresponds to that “best” element is alsoreferred to here as the “primary RP 106” for the UE 110.

FIG. 2 comprises a high-level flowchart illustrating one exemplaryembodiment of a high-level method 200 of detecting a physical move of aradio point 104 used in a C-RAN. The embodiment of method 200 shown inFIG. 2 is described here as being implemented for use in the C-RAN 100described above in connection with FIG. 1, though it is to be understoodthat other embodiments can be implemented in other ways.

The blocks of the flow diagram shown in FIG. 2 have been arranged in agenerally sequential manner for ease of explanation; however, it is tobe understood that this arrangement is merely exemplary, and it shouldbe recognized that the processing associated with method 200 (and theblocks shown in FIG. 2) can occur in a different order (for example,where at least some of the processing associated with the blocks isperformed in parallel and/or in an event-driven manner). Also, moststandard exception handling is not described for ease of explanation;however, it is to be understood that method 200 can and typically wouldinclude such exception handling.

Method 200 is successively performed for each given radio point 106.

Method 200 comprises determining signal reception metrics for the otherradio points 106 based on at least one transmission associated with thegiven radio point 106 (block 202) and determining if the given radiopoint 106 has physically moved as a function of the signal receptionmetrics for the other radio points 106 (block 204). The at least onetransmission associated with the given radio point 106 can, for example,comprise at least one transmission made by the given radio point 106itself and/or at least one transmission made by each UE 110 associatedwith that given radio point 106 (for example, each UE 110 that is veryclose to the given radio point 106).

In one implementation, for each given radio point 106, signal receptionmetrics for the other radio points 106 based on at least onetransmission associated with the given radio point 106 are made atsuccessive points in time. Provided there has been no change in thelocation of the given radio point 106 or the RF environment, it isexpected that the signal reception metrics for the other radio points106 that are closest to the given radio point 106 (the “nearby” radiopoints 106) will not change substantially from one determination of thesignal reception metrics to the next. If a significant number of thesignal reception metrics for the nearby radio points 106 changesubstantially from one determination of the signal reception metrics tothe next, there is a high probability that the given radio point 106 hasphysically moved or the RF environment associated with that given radiopoint 106 has otherwise changed significantly (for example, due to someother physical change such as a new barrier being installed or anexisting barrier being removed). This fact can be signaled to themanagement system 118 (in response to which, for example, the wirelessservice provider can send a technician to the site where the given radiopoint 106 should be located in order to investigate).

Examples of detailed implementations of method 200 are described belowin connection with FIG. 3 (for example, embodiments of method 200 can beimplemented using the NLM approach and/or the UE-based approachdescribed below in connection with FIG. 3).

FIG. 3 comprises a high-level flowchart illustrating one exemplaryembodiment of a method 300 of detecting a physical move of a radio point104 used in a C-RAN. The embodiment of method 300 shown in FIG. 3 isdescribed here as being implemented for use in the C-RAN 100 describedabove in connection with FIG. 1, though it is to be understood thatother embodiments can be implemented in other ways.

The blocks of the flow diagram shown in FIG. 3 have been arranged in agenerally sequential manner for ease of explanation; however, it is tobe understood that this arrangement is merely exemplary, and it shouldbe recognized that the processing associated with method 300 (and theblocks shown in FIG. 3) can occur in a different order (for example,where at least some of the processing associated with the blocks isperformed in parallel and/or in an event-driven manner). Also, moststandard exception handling is not described for ease of explanation;however, it is to be understood that method 300 can and typically wouldinclude such exception handling.

Method 300 is successively performed for each given radio point 106.

Method 300 comprises determining a respective neighborhood vector forthe given radio point 106 (block 302). The neighborhood vector comprisesa set of elements, one for each radio point 106. Each element comprisesa respective signal reception metric determined for at least onetransmission associated with the given radio point 106 based onmeasurements made at the associated other radio point 106.

One implementation uses a “Neighbor Listen Mechanism” (NLM) to determinethe neighborhood vector for each radio point 106. The NLM is a processthat is performed periodically (for example, once a day during alow-usage time). The NLM process is performed for each radio point 106.When the NLM process is performed for a given radio point 106, thatgiven radio point 106 is configured to make predetermined transmissionsand the other radio points 106 are configured to receive thosetransmissions, measure the received power for each of the receivedtransmissions (for example, in decibel-milliwatts (dBm)), and determinea signal reception metric based on the received power measurements. Thesignal reception metric can be, for example, an average received power(Rx) or an average path loss (PL). Other signal reception metrics can beused. Regardless of the signal reception metric being used, the impactof any beamforming should be taken into consideration in determining thesignal reception metrics.

In an implementation that uses the NLM to determine the neighborhoodvector for each radio point 106, the “at least one transmissionassociated with the given radio point 106” comprise the predeterminedtransmissions made by the given radio point 106 when the NLM process isperformed for that given radio point 106.

More formally, where the signal reception metric comprises an averagereceived power (Rx) for each given radio point RP_(i), the neighborhoodvector can be expressed as Rx_(i)=[Rx_(1,i), Rx_(2,i), . . . , 0, . . ., Rx_(n,i)], where Rx_(j,i) represents the average received power (indBm) measured at radio point RP_(j) for the NLM transmissions made bythe given radio point RP_(i) and n represents the number of radio points106. Note that the “0” in the neighborhood vector Rx_(i) represents theelement associated with the given radio point RP_(i) and is 0 becausethat value represents the self-receive power case.

Likewise, where the signal reception metric comprises an average powerloss (PL) for each given radio point RP_(i), the neighborhood vector canbe expressed as PL_(i)=[PL_(1,i), PL_(2,i), . . . , 0, . . . ,PL_(n,i)], where PL_(j,i) represents the average power loss measured atradio point RP_(j) for the NLM transmissions made by the given radiopoint RP_(i) and n represents the number of radio points 106. Note thatthe “0” in the neighborhood vector PL_(i) represents the elementassociated with the given radio point RP_(i) and is 0 because that valuerepresents the self-receive power case.

Another implementation is UE based and uses the signature vectors thatare otherwise generated for the UEs 110 served by the cell 102. Thesignature vectors are used to determine the neighborhood vector for eachradio point 106. As noted above, the current signature vector for eachUE 110 includes a reception metric for each radio point 106 that isdetermined from received power measurements made at that radio point106.

In such a UE-based implementation, for each given radio point 106, thecurrent signature vectors for the UEs 110 served by the cell 102 arefiltered in order to determine the UEs 110 that are very close to thegiven radio point 106 (for example, within one meter of the given radiopoint 106). This can be done by determining a signal reception metricfrom the received power measurements for the given radio point 106 usedto generate the current signature vector for each UE 110 and comparingthe signal reception metric to a predetermined proximity threshold. Theproximity threshold can be selected to correspond to the outer limit ofwhere a UE 110 would be considered to be very close to the radio point106. For example, if the signal reception metric comprises a path lossvalue, a UE 110 is considered to be very close to a given radio point106 if the path loss value determined for the given radio point 106 forthat UE 110 is less than the proximity threshold (which is a thresholdpath loss value in this example). (If pass loss is used, the impact ofany beamforming should be taken into consideration in determining pathloss.) If the signal reception metric comprises a received power value,a UE 110 is considered to be very close to a given radio point 106 ifthe received power value determined for the given radio point 106 forthe UE 110 is greater than the proximity threshold (which is a thresholdreceived power value in this example).

After the UEs 110 that are very close to a given radio point 106 aredetermined, the neighborhood vector for the given radio point 106 isdetermined from the received power measurements used to generate thecurrent signature vectors for those UEs 110. Each signal receptionmetric included in the neighborhood vector can be, for example, anaverage received power (in which case the neighborhood vector can beexpressed as the vector Rx_(i) as described above) or an average pathloss (in which case the neighborhood vector can be expressed as thevector PL_(i) as described above). Other signal reception metrics can beused.

In a UE-based implementation, the “at least one transmission associatedwith the given radio point 106” comprise the transmissions made by theUEs 110 that are used to generate the signature vectors for those UEs110.

Method 300 further comprises determining a respective change vector forthe given radio point 106 (block 304). The change vector comprises a setof elements, one for each radio point 106, where each element comprisesthe absolute value of the difference between the respective signalreception metric for that radio point 106 in the most-recentneighborhood vector and the respective signal reception metric for thatradio point 106 in the second-most-recent neighborhood vector.

More formally, where the signal reception metric comprises an averagereceived power (Rx) for each given radio point RP_(i), the change vectorcan be expressed as: ΔRx_(i)=|Rx_(i)(t)−Rx_(i)(t−1)|, where Rx_(i)(t) isthe neighborhood vector at time t (that is, Rx_(i)(t) is the most-recentneighborhood vector) and Rx_(i)(t−1) is the neighborhood vector at timet−1 (that is, Rx_(i)(t−1) is the second-most-recent neighborhoodvector).

Likewise, where the signal reception metric comprises an average pathloss (PL) for each given radio point RP_(i), the neighborhood vector canbe expressed as ΔPL_(i)=|PL_(i)(t)−PL_(i)(t−1)|, where PL_(i)(t) is theneighborhood vector at time t (that is, PL_(i)(t) is the most-recentneighborhood vector) and PL_(i)(t−1) is the neighborhood vector at timet−1 (that is, PL_(i)(t−1) is the second-most-recent neighborhoodvector).

Method 300 further comprises determining a respective move quotient forthe given radio point 106 (block 306). The move quotient for the givenradio point 106 can be determined by first determining a set of otherradio points 106 that are nearby the given radio point 106. The set ofnearby other radio points 106 can be determined using thesecond-most-recent neighborhood vector. A radio point 106 is nearby thegiven radio point 106 if the signal reception metric for that radiopoint 106 included in the second-most-recent neighborhood vector isbetter than a proximity threshold. The proximity threshold can beselected to correspond to the outer limit of where a radio point 106would be considered to be nearby the given radio point 106. For example,if the signal reception metric comprises a path loss value, a path lossvalue is better than the proximity threshold if the path loss value isless than the proximity threshold (which is a threshold path loss valuein this example). If the signal reception metric comprises a receivedpower value, a received power loss value is better than the proximitythreshold if the received power value is greater than the proximitythreshold (which is a threshold received power value in this example).

Then, for each of the nearby radio points 106, it is determined if thechange value for that nearby radio point 106 in the change vectorexceeds a move threshold. In one example, the move threshold can beselected to correspond to the outer limit of where a change value can beconsidered to be significant and indicative of a situation where thereis a significant change in the relative distance between the given radiopoint 106 and that nearby radio point 106 or a significant change in theRF environment associated with the path between the given radio point106 and that nearby radio point 106. In another example, the movethreshold can be determined on a radio-point-by-radio-point basis as afunction of the signal reception metric included in thesecond-most-recent neighborhood vector for each nearby radio point 106(for example, where lower move thresholds are used for radio points 106that were nearer the given radio point 106 when the second-most-recentneighborhood vector was determined).

The move quotient for a given radio point 106 can then be calculated asthe ratio of the number of nearby radio points 106 for that given radiopoint 106 that have a change value that exceeds the respective movethreshold and the total number of nearby radio points 106 for that givenradio point 106.

Method 300 further comprises determining if the given radio point 106has physically moved as a function of the respective move quotientdetermined for the given radio point 106 (block 308). In general, if agiven radio point 106 has been physically moved to a new location thatis significantly far away from its previous location, a large number ofthe nearby radio points 106 for that given radio point 106 will have achange value that exceeds the move threshold. Thus, the larger the movequotient for a given radio point 106, the more likely it is to be thecase that the given radio point 106 has physically moved. A thresholdvalue for the move quotient value can be used. For example, if the movequotient exceeds the threshold, that fact can be signaled to themanagement system 118 (in response to which, for example, the wirelessservice provider can send a technician to the site where the given radiopoint 106 should be located in order to investigate).

As a result of performing method 300 for a given radio point 106, if itis determined that only one other radio point 106 has a change valuethat exceeds the move threshold, this could indicate that the otherradio point 106 (not the given radio point 106 for which method 300 wasperformed) has been physically moved.

Other embodiments and implementations can be implemented in other ways.For example, although the description set forth above refers tocontrollers 104 and radio points 106, it is to be understood that thetechniques described here can be used in both 4G LTE and 5G NRembodiments, in the latter case references to a baseband controller 104can be replaced with references to a central unit and/or a distributedunit and references to radio points 106 can be replaced with referencesto remote units.

A number of embodiments of the invention defined by the following claimshave been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that variousmodifications to the described embodiments may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, otherembodiments are within the scope of the following claims.

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Example 1 includes a system comprising: a baseband controller tocommunicatively couple the system to a core network; and a plurality ofradio points to wirelessly transmit and receive radio frequency signalsto and from user equipment using a wireless interface, each of the radiopoints associated with at least one antenna and located remotely fromthe controller; wherein the system is configured to determine if a givenradio point has physically moved by: determining signal receptionmetrics for the other radio points based on at least one transmissionassociated with the given radio point; and determining if the givenradio point has physically moved as a function of the signal receptionmetrics for the other radio points.

Example 2 includes the system of Example 1, wherein the radio pointcomprises a 5G NR remote unit and the base controller comprises one ormore of a 5G NR central unit and a 5G NR distributed unit.

Example 3 includes the system of any of Examples 1-2, wherein the radiopoint comprises a 4G LTE radio point and the baseband controllercomprises a 4G LTE baseband controller.

Example 4 includes a system comprising: a baseband controller tocommunicatively couple the system to a core network; and a plurality ofradio points to wirelessly transmit and receive radio frequency signalsto and from user equipment using a wireless interface, each of the radiopoints associated with at least one antenna and located remotely fromthe controller; wherein the system is configured to successivelyperforming the following process for each given radio point: determine arespective neighborhood vector for the given radio point, eachrespective neighborhood vector including, for each of the other radiopoints, a respective signal reception metric determined for that otherradio point based on the reception of the at least one transmissionassociated with the given radio point at that other radio point;determine a respective change vector for the given radio point, eachrespective change vector including, for each of the other radio points,a respective change value indicative of a change between the respectivesignal reception metric value in the most-recent neighborhood vector andthe respective signal reception metric value in the second-most-recentneighborhood vector; determine a respective move quotient for the givenradio point by: determining a subset of the other radio points that thesecond-most-recent neighborhood vector indicates are nearby the givenradio point; determining, for each of the other radio points in saidsubset, if the respective change value in the change vector exceeds amove threshold; and determining the respective move quotient for thegiven radio point as a function of how many of the other radio pointsincluded in said subset have a respective change value in the changevector that exceeds the move threshold; and determine if the given radiopoint has physically moved as a function of the respective move quotientfor the given radio point.

Example 5 includes the system of Example 4, wherein the at least onetransmission associated with the given radio point comprises at leastone transmission made from the given radio point; and wherein the signalreception metric determined for each other radio point based on thereception of the at least one transmission associated with the givenradio point at that other radio point comprises a received powermeasurement made at that other radio point for the at least onetransmission made from the given point.

Example 6 includes the system of Example 5, wherein the respectiveneighborhood vector for the given radio point is determined using aNeighbor Listen Mechanism (NLM) process.

Example 7 includes the system of any of Examples 4-6, wherein the atleast one transmission associated with the given radio point comprisestransmissions made from user equipment that is very close to the givenradio point; wherein the signal reception metric for each of the otherradio points determined for the at least the transmission associatedwith the given radio point is determined using current signature vectorsdetermined for the user equipment that is very close to the given radiopoint.

Example 8 includes the system of any of Examples 4-7, wherein the signalreception metric for each of the other radio points determined for theat least the transmission associated with the given radio pointcomprises at least one of: a received power and a path loss.

Example 9 includes the system of Example 8, wherein the impact of anybeamforming is taken into consideration in determining the path loss.

Example 10 includes the system of any of Examples 4-9, wherein the radiopoint comprises a 5G NR remote unit and the base controller comprisesone or more of a 5G NR central unit and a 5G NR distributed unit.

Example 11 includes the system of any of Examples 4-10, wherein theradio point comprises a 4G LTE radio point and the baseband controllercomprises a 4G LTE baseband controller.

Example 12 includes a method of determining if a given radio point hasphysically moved in a system comprising a baseband controller tocommunicatively couple the system to a core network; and a plurality ofradio points to wirelessly transmit and receive radio frequency signalsto and from user equipment using a wireless interface, each of the radiopoints associated with at least one antenna and located remotely fromthe controller, the method comprising: determining signal receptionmetrics for the other radio points based on at least one transmissionassociated with the given radio point; and determining if the givenradio point has physically moved as a function of the signal receptionmetrics for the other radio points.

Example 13 includes the method of Example 12, wherein the radio pointcomprises a 5G NR remote unit and the base controller comprises one ormore of a 5G NR central unit and a 5G NR distributed unit.

Example 14 includes the method of any of Examples 12-13, wherein theradio point comprises a 4G LTE radio point and the baseband controllercomprises a 4G LTE baseband controller.

Example 15 includes a method of determining a physical move of a radiopoint in a system comprising a baseband controller to communicativelycouple the system to a core network; and a plurality of radio points towirelessly transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and from userequipment using a wireless interface, each of the radio pointsassociated with at least one antenna and located remotely from thecontroller, the method comprising: successively performing the followingfor each given radio point: determining a respective neighborhood vectorfor the given radio point, each respective neighborhood vectorincluding, for each of the other radio points, a respective signalreception metric determined for that other radio point based on thereception of the at least one transmission associated with the givenradio point at that other radio point; determining a respective changevector for the given radio point, each respective change vectorincluding, for each of the other radio points, a respective change valueindicative of a change between the respective signal reception metricvalue in the most-recent neighborhood vector and the respective signalreception metric value in the second-most-recent neighborhood vector;determining a respective move quotient for the given radio point by:determining a subset of the other radio points that thesecond-most-recent neighborhood vector indicates are nearby the givenradio point; determining, for each of the other radio points in saidsubset, if the respective change value in the change vector exceeds amove threshold; and determining the respective move quotient for thegiven radio point as a function of how many of the other radio pointsincluded in said subset have a respective change value in the changevector that exceeds the move threshold; and determining if the givenradio point has physically moved as a function of the respective movequotient for the given radio point.

Example 16 includes the method of Example 15, wherein the at least onetransmission associated with the given radio point comprises at leastone transmission made from the given radio point; and wherein the signalreception metric determined for each other radio point based on thereception of the at least one transmission associated with the givenradio point at that other radio point comprises a received powermeasurement made at that other radio point for the at least onetransmission made from the given point.

Example 17 includes the method of Example 16, wherein the respectiveneighborhood vector for the given radio point is determined using aNeighbor Listen Mechanism (NLM) process.

Example 18 includes the method of any of Examples 15-17, wherein the atleast one transmission associated with the given radio point comprisestransmissions made from user equipment that is very close to the givenradio point; wherein the signal reception metric for each of the otherradio points determined for the at least the transmission associatedwith the given radio point is determined using current signature vectorsdetermined for the user equipment that is very close to the given radiopoint.

Example 19 includes the method of any of Examples 15-18, wherein thesignal reception metric for each of the other radio points determinedfor the at least the transmission associated with the given radio pointcomprises at least one of: a received power and a path loss.

Example 20 includes the method of Example 19, wherein the impact of anybeamforming is taken into consideration in determining the path loss.

Example 21 includes the method of any of Examples 15-20, wherein theradio point comprises a 5G NR remote unit and the base controllercomprises one or more of a 5G NR central unit and a 5G NR distributedunit.

Example 22 includes the method of any of Examples 15-21, wherein theradio point comprises a 4G LTE radio point and the baseband controllercomprises a 4G LTE baseband controller.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a baseband controller tocommunicatively couple the system to a core network; and a plurality ofradio points to wirelessly transmit and receive radio frequency signalsto and from user equipment using a wireless interface, each of the radiopoints associated with at least one antenna and located remotely fromthe controller; wherein the system is configured to determine if a givenradio point has physically moved by: determining signal receptionmetrics for the other radio points based on at least one transmissionassociated with the given radio point; and determining if the givenradio point has physically moved as a function of the signal receptionmetrics for the other radio points.
 2. The system of claim 1, whereinthe radio point comprises a 5G NR remote unit and the base controllercomprises one or more of a 5G NR central unit and a 5G NR distributedunit.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio point comprises a 4GLTE radio point and the baseband controller comprises a 4G LTE basebandcontroller.
 4. A system comprising: a baseband controller tocommunicatively couple the system to a core network; and a plurality ofradio points to wirelessly transmit and receive radio frequency signalsto and from user equipment using a wireless interface, each of the radiopoints associated with at least one antenna and located remotely fromthe controller; wherein the system is configured to successivelyperforming the following process for each given radio point: determine arespective neighborhood vector for the given radio point, eachrespective neighborhood vector including, for each of the other radiopoints, a respective signal reception metric determined for that otherradio point based on the reception of the at least one transmissionassociated with the given radio point at that other radio point;determine a respective change vector for the given radio point, eachrespective change vector including, for each of the other radio points,a respective change value indicative of a change between the respectivesignal reception metric value in the most-recent neighborhood vector andthe respective signal reception metric value in the second-most-recentneighborhood vector; determine a respective move quotient for the givenradio point by: determining a subset of the other radio points that thesecond-most-recent neighborhood vector indicates are nearby the givenradio point; determining, for each of the other radio points in saidsubset, if the respective change value in the change vector exceeds amove threshold; and determining the respective move quotient for thegiven radio point as a function of how many of the other radio pointsincluded in said subset have a respective change value in the changevector that exceeds the move threshold; and determine if the given radiopoint has physically moved as a function of the respective move quotientfor the given radio point.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the atleast one transmission associated with the given radio point comprisesat least one transmission made from the given radio point; and whereinthe signal reception metric determined for each other radio point basedon the reception of the at least one transmission associated with thegiven radio point at that other radio point comprises a received powermeasurement made at that other radio point for the at least onetransmission made from the given point.
 6. The system of claim 5,wherein the respective neighborhood vector for the given radio point isdetermined using a Neighbor Listen Mechanism (NLM) process.
 7. Thesystem of claim 4, wherein the at least one transmission associated withthe given radio point comprises transmissions made from user equipmentthat is very close to the given radio point; wherein the signalreception metric for each of the other radio points determined for theat least the transmission associated with the given radio point isdetermined using current signature vectors determined for the userequipment that is very close to the given radio point.
 8. The system ofclaim 4, wherein the signal reception metric for each of the other radiopoints determined for the at least the transmission associated with thegiven radio point comprises at least one of: a received power and a pathloss.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the impact of any beamforming istaken into consideration in determining the path loss.
 10. The system ofclaim 4, wherein the radio point comprises a 5G NR remote unit and thebase controller comprises one or more of a 5G NR central unit and a 5GNR distributed unit.
 11. The system of claim 4, wherein the radio pointcomprises a 4G LTE radio point and the baseband controller comprises a4G LTE baseband controller.
 12. A method of determining if a given radiopoint has physically moved in a system comprising a baseband controllerto communicatively couple the system to a core network; and a pluralityof radio points to wirelessly transmit and receive radio frequencysignals to and from user equipment using a wireless interface, each ofthe radio points associated with at least one antenna and locatedremotely from the controller, the method comprising: determining signalreception metrics for the other radio points based on at least onetransmission associated with the given radio point; and determining ifthe given radio point has physically moved as a function of the signalreception metrics for the other radio points.
 13. The method of claim12, wherein the radio point comprises a 5G NR remote unit and the basecontroller comprises one or more of a 5G NR central unit and a 5G NRdistributed unit.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the radio pointcomprises a 4G LTE radio point and the baseband controller comprises a4G LTE baseband controller.
 15. A method of determining a physical moveof a radio point in a system comprising a baseband controller tocommunicatively couple the system to a core network; and a plurality ofradio points to wirelessly transmit and receive radio frequency signalsto and from user equipment using a wireless interface, each of the radiopoints associated with at least one antenna and located remotely fromthe controller, the method comprising: successively performing thefollowing for each given radio point: determining a respectiveneighborhood vector for the given radio point, each respectiveneighborhood vector including, for each of the other radio points, arespective signal reception metric determined for that other radio pointbased on the reception of the at least one transmission associated withthe given radio point at that other radio point; determining arespective change vector for the given radio point, each respectivechange vector including, for each of the other radio points, arespective change value indicative of a change between the respectivesignal reception metric value in the most-recent neighborhood vector andthe respective signal reception metric value in the second-most-recentneighborhood vector; determining a respective move quotient for thegiven radio point by: determining a subset of the other radio pointsthat the second-most-recent neighborhood vector indicates are nearby thegiven radio point; determining, for each of the other radio points insaid subset, if the respective change value in the change vector exceedsa move threshold; and determining the respective move quotient for thegiven radio point as a function of how many of the other radio pointsincluded in said subset have a respective change value in the changevector that exceeds the move threshold; and determining if the givenradio point has physically moved as a function of the respective movequotient for the given radio point.
 16. The method of claim 15, whereinthe at least one transmission associated with the given radio pointcomprises at least one transmission made from the given radio point; andwherein the signal reception metric determined for each other radiopoint based on the reception of the at least one transmission associatedwith the given radio point at that other radio point comprises areceived power measurement made at that other radio point for the atleast one transmission made from the given point.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the respective neighborhood vector for the given radiopoint is determined using a Neighbor Listen Mechanism (NLM) process. 18.The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one transmission associatedwith the given radio point comprises transmissions made from userequipment that is very close to the given radio point; wherein thesignal reception metric for each of the other radio points determinedfor the at least the transmission associated with the given radio pointis determined using current signature vectors determined for the userequipment that is very close to the given radio point.
 19. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the signal reception metric for each of the otherradio points determined for the at least the transmission associatedwith the given radio point comprises at least one of: a received powerand a path loss.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the impact of anybeamforming is taken into consideration in determining the path loss.21. The method of claim 15, wherein the radio point comprises a 5G NRremote unit and the base controller comprises one or more of a 5G NRcentral unit and a 5G NR distributed unit.
 22. The method of claim 15,wherein the radio point comprises a 4G LTE radio point and the basebandcontroller comprises a 4G LTE baseband controller.